NAVCENT Conducts Crisis Response Exercise

12.14.2008

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer 

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain – Joint Task Force Crisis Response, led by Vice. Adm. Bill Gortney, conducted Exercise Internal Look 2009, a crisis response exercise that measured and enhanced the capabilities of U.S. forces to respond to a natural disaster in the U.S. Central Command area of operations.

The exercise ran from Dec. 2-13 and involved over 290 members of the U.S. military, along with liaison officers from Canada and the United Kingdom. In the simulated exercise, JTF-CR responded to a request for humanitarian assistance following a tsunami in the region.

"When one of our regional partners requests our assistance following a crisis such as a natural disaster, U.S. forces must be ready and committed to come to their aid," said Rear Adm. Kendall Card, deputy commander, JTF-CR. "By improving our response process and capabilities, we increase our ability to save lives, mitigate human suffering and provide critical services to our regional partners in their time of need."

In the event of a natural disaster, JTF-CR is CENTCOM's contingency joint task force that could respond to a regional nation's request for humanitarian aid.

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) is the JTF-CR component commander, which consists of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps units from the CENTCOM AOO.

This exercise also helps to enhance interoperability among U.S. forces, as well as increase understanding of the interdependence between military forces, regional nations, U.S. Embassies and USAID, the lead Federal agency that conducts crisis response operations.

"NAVCENT's role with in crisis response operations is key in demonstrating our commitment to the region." said Lt. Cmdr. Joe Pezzato, deputy chief of future operations, JTF-CR. "It lets regional nations know that we will be there with them not only in good times, but also in their hours of need."

U.S. forces routinely provide humanitarian assistance to nations throughout the world following natural disasters. In 2005, U.S. forces participated in a multi-national assistance and support effort led by the Pakistani government that brought aid to the victims of a devastating earthquake that struck the region.

Operations in the NAVCENT AOO are focused on reassuring regional partners of the coalition's commitment to help develop/build security and stability. Forces maintain a naval and air presence in the region that deters destabilizing activities while safeguarding the region's vital links to the global economy.

• Date Taken: 12.14.2008
• Date Posted: 12.14.2008 00:40
• Story ID: 27657